Sunday, October 07, 2012

Stylish Dress? Not so much on me...
This is Dress E from Yoshiko Tsukiori’s Stylish Dress Book - Wear With Freedom book. It has pleats in the front, a gathered back above the waist, short sleeves, faced neckline.
I think it looks great on the model.

Unfortunately, it did not have the same effect on a 50 something curvy body. I seemed to be swimming in it! My daughter made the suggestion to pull it in more in the back. Since I didn't want to cut the dress and put in a zipper (which is what I should have done) I just added some ties to the sides to help pull in some of the fullness. This made a huge difference - but maybe not enough. The jury is still out on this one...

I really am enjoying making things out of these books. Unfortunately, most of the styles are loose and shapeless like this. I just don't think they are the best match for a curvy body. Still, there is something about them that I really like.

The instructions in these books are easy to follow, but there are assumptions that you have basic sewing skills. I love the way the directions are laid out in the Japanese sewing books, but the directions are very basic. For example, you need to know how to do a set in sleeve, but there are illustrations..

I used a good quality quilting cotton for this dress, and although it doesn't fall like lawn would, I still think it works. You can't see it in the pictures, but there are little birds on this fabric that I really like.

I did do a full bust adjustment, but should have added a bit more in circumference at the front. I would also narrow the back if I were to make it again.
I also lengthened the pattern by several inches to make it dress length. As I noted before, I added little ties to the sides to corral in some of the fullness in the back. If I were to make it again, I would take out a few inches of that fullness. It just makes you look big all over.

I think I may make this again, just because it was so easy and there is something about it that I really like, even though my daughter thinks it is horrible.

I really am liking sewing with the Japanese sewing books. However, all of the styles are fairly shapeless and are designed for women with small busts. I don’t know why I am drawn to this style when I know it is not very flattering for most body types!